A BIDDING war believed to involve paintballing and pistol shooting companies has broken out in the race to buy a Helsby wood.

Seven bids have now been received for Harmers Wood, raising the stakes way above the £30,000 guide price set by Cholmondeley Estates.

It may now take £50,000 to buy the 8.8-acre site, which could prove too costly for residents considering a joint bid to secure public access.

Although there are no public footpaths, walkers have enjoyed using the wood for years with no threat of enforcement action.

Worried locals have already presented petitions to Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall and have now formed a Friends of Harmers Wood action group.

They have followed in the footsteps of campaigners fighting to save the 26.2-acre Frodsham Hill Wood by requesting three months to put a bid together.

The Woodland Trust has made an offer for the Frodsham site, subject to fundraisers raising the cash, but says it cannot help Helsby.

Both proposals are now being considered by Cholmondeley Estates.

Colin Gee, of John Clegg and Co, which is handling the sales, said 'several bids' had been received for the Frodsham site.

Audrey Davies, organiser of the Harmers Wood petition, told how she met one of the bidders while strolling through the wood.

'He told me he had put in a £40,000 bid and wanted to use the site for pistol shooting,' she said.

'He was on about wanting one of the quarries for it, which would be very close to the road.

'It seems he is up against a paint-balling company which has also bid for the site.

'He said it would be on our own heads if we walked through the wood while there was pistol shooting going on.'

Christine Wilmot, one of five Hill Road North residents weighing up a bid, said: 'Something like pistol shooting is the last thing we want here.

'But if the price keeps going up, we might not be able to do anything about it. We can't afford to get involved in a bidding war.'

Fellow campaigner Maureen Parker said residents were hoping to have the wood designated a public right of way under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Forms are now being filled in and sent to Cheshire County Council.

Mrs Parker said she believed land used by the public for more than 22 years could be declared a right of way.

Mr Gee said he had not been instructed to inquire what bidders intended to use the land for, but he added: 'I don't think the owners would accept an offer conditional on planning permission.'

Robert Miller, Cholmondeley Estates land manager, said: 'I don't think paintballing or pistol shooting would be a preferred use for Harm-ers Wood.

'But people could say they will use it as a private amenity and then try and build a racetrack.

'Helsby residents may not agree, but it is perhaps not quite as sensitive as Frodsham Hill Wood.'